Buddhism and Happiness: Sitting Quietly, Doing Something

- It changed my life and opened my mind. It's hard at first but keep pushing yourself. Start here: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html

- Listen to Alan Watts. Here is a good video to start with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I8rnV0gN0E

Additionally I find that reading a good translation of the Tao helps, my personal favorite so far is: http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Perennial-Classics/dp/006...

Here are the key conceptual passages I noted down last time I read it:

“When any mental state arises strongly enough to distract you from the object of meditation, switch your attention to the distraction briefly. Make the distraction a temporary object of meditation... You switch your attention to the distraction only long enough to notice certain specific things about it. What is it? How strong is it? and, how long does it last? As soon as you have wordlessly answered these questions, you are through with your examination of that distraction, and you return your attention to the breath.”

“[D]istractions are actually the whole point. The key is to learn to deal with these things. Learning to notice them without being trapped in them. That's what we are here for. The mental wandering is unpleasant, to be sure. But it is the normal mode of operation of your mind. Don't think of it as the enemy. It is just the simple reality. And if you want to change something, the first thing you have to do is see it the way it is.”

“Whatever it is, don't try to repress it. Don't try to force it out of your mind. There's no need for that. Just observe it mindfully with bare attention. Examine the distraction wordlessly and it will pass away by itself. You will find your attention drifting effortlessly back to the breath. And do not condemn yourself for having being distracted. Distractions are natural. They come and they go.”

“From the point of view of mindfulness, there is really no such thing as a distraction. Whatever arises in the mind is viewed as just one more opportunity to cultivate mindfulness. Breath, remember, is an arbitrary focus, and it is used as our primary object of attention. Distractions are used as secondary objects of attention. They are certainly as much a part of reality as breath. It actually makes rather little difference what the object of mindfulness is. You can be mindful of the breath, or you can be mindful of the distraction. You can be mindful of the fact that you mind is still, and your concentration is strong, or you can be mindful of the fact that your concentration is in ribbons and your mind is in an absolute shambles. It's all mindfulness. Just maintain that mindfulness and concentration eventually will follow.”

“The purpose of meditation is not to concentrate on the breath, without interruption, forever. That by itself would be a useless goal. The purpose of meditation is not to achieve a perfectly still and serene mind. Although a lovely state, it doesn't lead to liberation by itself. The purpose of meditation is to achieve uninterrupted mindfulness.”

If you look for Buddhist groups, you'll find different kinds. The best way to avoid new-agey or flakey groups is to check their sources. Do they have a teacher who is a good example? Who was the teacher's teacher? Authentic Buddhist lineages of teacher and student trace themselves back for generations, and the teachers praise their teachers -- not themselves.

There are many authentic lineages. You'll find Japanese Zen schools which prefer a lot of discipline. There are also four Tibetan schools. The school of the Dalai Lama is called the Gelug school. It is the newest of the four schools and strongly emphasizes study and theory. The older Kagyu and Nyingma schools specialize in meditation and direct experience. In my experience, Kagyus tend to be more "learn by swimming" types and the Nyingma prefer a broad overview and more distance. I don't have experience with the fourth school, the Sakya.

I've meditated in the Kagyu school for six years now as part of the Diamond Way centers (http://www.lama-ole-nydahl.org/diamondway-buddhism/). Which group you find isn't important. The important thing if you want good results is that you find something authentic which fits you, and if it fits, stay with one thing without mixing. Different Buddhist schools use the same words for different things and different words for the same things, and it gets even more confusing if you mix Buddhist and non-Buddhist sources.

Good luck!

I am happy to share with readers here the most excellent compendium of the Ignatian method of Christian mental prayer that I have ever encountered:

- Fifth Treatise: On the Excellency of Prayer

http://www.holynamesoftware.org/OnPrayer.pdf

The following essay is a real treasure too:

- The Practice of Lectio Divina

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AdgpYJu8XEUoZGRxc2Z6cWtfM...

I find it easier to move into a meditative state when my body is moving, personally.

For those in the NYC area, I have learned a lot through the Mountains and Rivers Order, which has a temple in Brooklyn and a monastery upstate in Mt. Tremper (between Woodstock and Phoenicia). http://www.mro.org/mro.html

I've also found many teachings of awakened Zen Masters to be very helpful, such as Dogen or Hui Neng, but am completely non-religious and non-dogmatic. I would not consider myself a zen buddhist, as that's just a concept, a categorization. The information and success of the tools in cultivating awareness is what's important, not the dogma or labels.

http://al3x.net/2010/09/07/startup-health.html

It's not only easy to do but I also found the scientific research comforting because I'm an atheist that never really warmed up to some of the other more mysticism-based methods.

One note: I've found that comfortable walking shoes really help. If my feet are cramped or sore or my shins start to ache, it's really hard to get into the flow of the walk.

Seconding Mindfulness In Plain English, though.

[1]http://books.google.com/books?id=-PrBkjz513YC&printsec=f...

What value to you get in return for this significant investment of time? I've been curious about meditation for a while, but never really understood the benefits. Every time I've tried it, I've walked away cranky and uncomfortable.